Charlotte FC faces CF Montréal for the second time this season in their first of two home matches this week as The Crown looks to secure a playoff position.
Kickoff from Bank of America Stadium is slated for 7:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday, October 28, and fans can watch the match on Apple TV.
Let’s look at the Materials of the Match presented by Rubbermaid to see how Charlotte FC can protect their home field.
Last Time Out
Charlotte FC lost to the Portland Timbers 3-2 on Saturday, October 24, in Portland after the Timbers scored a winner in the 90+6 minute.
Pep Biel quickly put Charlotte FC in the lead, scoring with a curled shot from outside the box for his 13th goal of the season. Portland responded twice in the first half with goals in the 11th and 40th minute to pull out to a 2-1 lead.
Idan Toklomati extended his hold on the Charlotte FC single-season MLS scoring record with his 14th goal this season to tie the match. The Crown looked to have a hold on a playoff spot just needing a draw to clinch, but Portland’s last-minute goal took that away and sent Charlotte FC home with zero points.
Hello Playoffs
Charlotte FC can clinch a spot in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season with the following outcomes on Wednesday:
- A Charlotte FC win or draw against CF Montréal
OR
- A Red Bull New York loss or draw against New England Revolution (10/28, 7:30 p.m.)
OR
- A Columbus Crew loss or draw against FC Dallas (10/28, 8:30 p.m.)
The Crown clinching a playoff spot would mean Head Coach Dean Smith has made the playoffs with Charlotte FC every year he’s led the team.
If Charlotte FC can finish in third place or higher in the Eastern Conference, it would be their highest regular season finish in Club history. The Crown can also finish with a maximum of 56 points, which would be their second-highest total in Club history.
“We can't rely on anybody else,” Smith said. “So our job is to go into this game now, and go and win the game and if you do that, then you've qualified and you're still pushing for that top four as well.”
Kessler Consistency
Henry Kessler has been a model of consistency for Charlotte FC’s backline. Since July 25, Kessler has started 15 consecutive MLS matches for Charlotte FC at center back and has been a mainstay in front of Kristijan Kahlina.
Kessler returned to the lineup on July 25 against Red Bull New York after missing the front half of the season due to a hamstring injury that plagued him.
The Crown has allowed 23 goals in the last 15 league matches, including eight matches of allowing one goal or less and three matches in which Charlotte FC achieved a clean sheet since Kessler’s streak began. Charlotte FC has gone 7-4-4 during the streak, picking up 26 points as they climbed up the standings.
Every Time is Toklo Time
Toklomati has been a goal-scoring machine. With his goal against Portland on Saturday, he has scored in four consecutive matches, the longest goal-scoring streak in Club history. During the streak, Toklomati has scored five goals across the span as well as recording two assists.
Toklomati’s run of form has been a big part of the reason why he was able to break Charlotte FC’s single-season MLS goals record. If you go back to August 19, Toklomati has scored nine goals in 11 matches after scoring just five goals in the first 19 matches. He came close to tying the record last season, scoring 11 goals and coming one short of the record.
“I mean, pleased for him because I know the work that he puts in,” Smith said. “I thought he was our best player again on Saturday. I thought he led the line really well, scored a great goal. Yeah, he's improving all the time and what a better time to have a player in form.”
Impacting Montréal
It’ll have been 50 days since CF Montréal and Charlotte FC first faced off this season when the two teams take the field for the reverse fixture on Wednesday.
Charlotte FC got the best of Montréal in the first leg, winning 2-1 at Stade Saputo in Montréal with goals from Liel Abada and Toklomati, both assisted by Allan Saint-Maximin. Toklomati entered the match as a sub for the injured Archie Goodwin and scored the match-winner in the 81st minute.
Since that match, Montréal has had a tough time gaining points. In the seven matches they’ve played since, they’re gone 1-5-1 and picked up only four points. They’ve failed to win in their last four matches and now are in last place in the Eastern Conference with 25 points.
Prince Owusu has been a star in an otherwise tough year for Montréal, leading the team with 15 goals and recording five assists. Owusu accounts for 41.67 percent of Montréal’s 36 goals, a goal total that is last in MLS. They also have the second-worst goal differential in MLS (-26) due to allowing 62 goals, the fourth-most in the league.
Charlotte FC can’t sleep on Montréal, however. With a playoff spot at stake, The Crown needs to be mindful of a hungry Montréal team that is eager to win no matter who they’re playing. With Montréal striking first in their last matchup, it’s imperative that Charlotte FC gets the first blow so that they can control the match.
“Don’t expect because of where they are, that it's just going to be a rollover game and games are never like that and you have to respect the opposition,” Smith said. “It has to be about our performance levels. Make sure that we're focused, make sure our mentality is right and I don't think we've let our fans down too many times at home and that's an important thing.”
OCTOBER 28 @ 7:30 PM // CHARLOTTE VS. MONTREAL
The Crown takes on CF Montreal in a mid-week matchup on Wednesday, October 28, at 7:30 PM at Bank of America Stadium during Fan Appreciation Week. Don't miss the last regular-season light show, presented by Duke Energy!
